LAWRENCEVILLE — The Rider field hockey team will play for its third consecutive Northeast Conference championship Saturday (noon at Ben Cohen Field) against Monmouth.

The Broncs defeated Quinnipiac, 4-1, in one of two semifinals Friday afternoon. The Hawks knocked off St. Francis (Pa.), 3-1 in the other. This will be the third straight time Rider and Monmouth have met in the title game. The Broncs won the previous two.

The two met in the final game of the regular season with Rider taking a 5-2 decision in West Long Branch.

Gabby Burgo scored a pair of first-half goals to give the Broncs a halftime lead. The Bobcats pulled a goal back early in the second half, but a penalty stroke by Allison Muschs and a super solo goal by Sandra Penas (NEC-best 17 tallies) secured victory.

Here's video of Penas after the game:

And here's a link to my colleague Joe O'Gorman's game story: Rider tops Quinnipiac to reach NEC championship

I'll be at Saturday's final with a recap before heading over to the basketball exhibition against Scranton.